Internet security bug is as bad as it sounds

The word “Heartbleed” meant nothing at the start of the week. Today it’s one of the hottest topics on the Internet -- a simple security bug in an obscure piece of software that could compromise the personal information of millions. And while the Internet’s biggest companies scramble to fix the problem, users had better get ready to upgrade their own security practices.

So big that Ford thinks people should take a time out from online retailers, financial services sites, or online destinations that require entering sensitive information — names, addresses, credit card numbers. “I probably wouldn’t log into those for a couple of days or so,” he said.

To Ford, this isn’t another exaggerated Internet scare. Heartbleed really is that bad. But what is it?